ZWIFT - Good Cat D Rider Tries Cat C... Can I Survive?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- This video is my first experience with CAT C on Zwift. Can I stick with it?
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Good work . When are we all doing the alpe again ?
Great video, I’ve made the jump to C in the last few weeks, the gap is huge
@@25104719mac its a big step up but one weve got nailed. 🙌💪
Its a big step up, I am usually the heaviest at 108kg, you work your arse off and finish in the middle. Very depressing seeing 75kgs people pass you.... Keep up the good content though
Excited to watch this video! Good on you for going to cat C. Really amazing how much you progressed during your time on Zwift so far. You are building that FTP!! :P
Cheers Bart. 👌
I found the difference in categories really shows on the hills. I have to go deep to stick with the front on a climb in cat C.
Definitely, I managed to stick with the lead pack to the end on 'Going Coastal'. Hills I have no chance.
Great to finally see you racing in Cat C, Ryan.
Great job finishing in the 1st half of your first cat C race - promotions are savage. I'm sure you've already improved upon that result though.
Great spoiler, thanks
Hey Ryan, I've only been in your community for a month or so but it's incredible to see how far you have come with your journey. I found you thanks to your thames path ultra video. I don't suppose you're going for round 2 this year are you? I've booked the first 50km for myself :)
Hey Lukas, welcome! Yes, Im gonna try and beat my time from last year. Good luck, its a great event!
@@RyanCondon amazing mate, hope to see you there in the morning!
Keep doing Cat C👍👍... It will get easier the more you do it as it pushes you more than CAT D. I wasnt winning CAT C but got promoted to B and got dropped very quick in the first few races but starting to hang on longer in the front group now.
Cheers Ben, thats the plan. Good luck in B!
I noticed you mentioned on 3 minute warm up. Don’t underestimate a good warm up protocol before racing. You’ll find your heart rate is lower and won’t spike as quickly and legs warmed up properly.
Jep! I so recognize the heartrate going crazy that early in C-Cat while seeing the front just easily ride of into the sunset but almost dying myself as a mediocre C-Rider. (still puzzled how I became a C-Cat to be honest). Can't even imagine B and A Cats ☠
Bag that Badge was my first ever racing series, still got a lot to learn to keep me from dying 😬 Lots of fun though!
But I suggest Zwift should change the avatars appearances (maybe with with gushing sweat and red heads) based on heartrate so at least you can actually see others are suffering too 😆
Good on you for taking your strides into C-Cat, you'll level up in no time when you keep this inspiring fitness journey up!
Ride On mate!
Thanks! I agree with the sweaty Avatars, that would be a big boost if I saw others trying to keep up too.
Good watts there Ryan. Sometimes when you get dropped it’s so hard to get back on as they saving so much draft
Thanks Shane. The draft is so much more important in C
nicely done brother its always hard to go one level above
Thanks
It s a process-just don t quit u will be ok---everybody goes by learning ok man,,it nice to see the yourney--i am B and starting slowly going to A and u are doing much better than me::::belive me bravoooooo🎉🎉🎉
I doubt that but I appreciate the kind words. 🙌🙏
Excellent vid and race. Most of my rides are outdoors but I do love Zwift and use it for training and racing. Does Zwift automatically bump you up a cat? I’ve been C for a while with a few top 10s. And one day, not sure how, was bumped to a B. Holy hell I’m not a B. I’m a competitive D and descent C. How does that happen? I did read somewhere if a rider holds a sustained watt for a period of time or a particular FTP then Zwift automatically places you in a cat. Anyway, cool vids and awesome racing.
Yes. There are watt per KG gradings for each CAT. Thanks for watching. 👍
Ryan, I remember watching your first Zwift video. The numbers matter not. What matters is that you look like a champ! You've put in a ton of effort and I can see it!
Thanks. I appreciate that. 🙏💪🙌
Well done for stepping up Ryan. Hopefully I'll be able to join you for a race when I get back on Zwift later in the year. Its hard Cat to crack is the C cat there some mega strong riders and some cheating bast£@!s. Keep going
Cheers Russ. 💪
Let’s dance 🕺 Cat D to Cat D Ryan 🤣 when is your next potentially last dance in Cat D, I’ll join you if you fancy it….
They played Frank Sinatra, we all held hands and the lights came on... Last dance is done. Welcome to Cat C baby.
@@RyanCondon well done, I’m genuinely chuffed for you, you have put in the work. I hope to see you there and we can save that dance for a double CC night of fun 🙌🏻
"This is Mental!" LMAO
So funny to see you put 223w average in the race while that is my average in todays zone 2 ride (keep up the grind you already improved so much)
What's your Zone 2 Watts per KG?
3,0-3,5 (195W-235) I’m a cat an although I never raced in zwift. I’m just a 17 year old road biker (I do race but outside)
Its probably a lot easier to get fast when you are younger. Most older people will have full time jobs and maybe kids to look after. Its definitely a lot harder to put a lot of hours into anything when you have a lot of other responsibilities. I feel like I could have improved a lot more if I had more time. Too many days where I have to miss going on my bike for some reason.
@@cryptocretinand I have exams and don’t do CYCLING school but go to real school one of the best and most prestigious in Belgium in fact. So I indeed have to study a lot and also have little time. I just try to fit it in.
Pffft whatever dude
Welcome to C - spot on observations, the intensity is MUCH higher. Only 6 months to your first C WIN
Thanks Gavin. 🙌
Cat C is hard. There's guys on the cusp of B and it's fecking hard.
I'm learning the hard way. 😅
This is the nonsense of Zwift categories. Ryan puts out Cat C watts but has a Cat D watts per kg. The parcours are generally too flat to justify w/kg categorisation.
True.. So they are faster than Cat D on the flats, but slower than Cat C on sustained climbs and rolling hills.
Do you have any alternative idea on how Zwift can categorise?? 🤔Just wondering the same thing.
@@skandhaprasath2767
Race results, circuit times, overall Watts or an algorithm taking into account all 4. Or just some hillier parcours.
If I’m honest cat C is just nuts as cat B rider cat C is a real push to stay in the front group as some people can just push like 4-4,5w/kg for like 5 minutes which is my max… definitely not cat C
That fills me with confidence, I'll have to chop an arm off the get my weight down. 😅
@@RyanCondon hahaha I struggle where you gain due to me being 60kg I have a hard time on flats but on the climbs I dominate
Currently 2min into the video, I'M EXCITED!
Big jump from D’s to C’s Ryan, I found that out and I am still struggling to stick with the bunch . Some powerful/fit guys and girls in the C’s . I have been a C for 10 months and I am desperately trying to get back into the D’s 🤞🏻🤞🏻 . You will definitely be a C soon .👍💪🏻
I'm C now, I've decided no more D shenanigans for me. 😅
Great stuff, Ryan! The struggle is a lot more interesting to watch, than the easy win. More challenges await. I have my popcorn ready! 😊👍
I prefer the grind. It's why I stepped up. 🙏
you are an inspiration! its a true joy to follow your journey! Keep it up man!!! Love from Norway
Thank you my friend... Right back at ya!
I appreciate watching your videos, because they are great motivation for noobies. 😝😝😝😝
Then good job, good editing, your are enjoying it and making it fun for viewers.
I do try lol. Thanks Elvis! I'm pleased you enjoy them.
Excellent work. I always thought I’d be able to mix it in Cat C on a flattish course. I was full of sh#t! Doing the latest series in both C and D. Want a rookie mistake? Accidentally started the race on the Atomic Cruiser…. had to kill myself to stay up there!
HaHaHa! Started on the cruiser?!? And I thought I was bad starting with a TT bike. lol
Welcome to cat c racing I’ve been cat c from race 12 I’m now on 82 but it don’t help being 70kg and only 5.4 tall but great result for you and 2.6w/k that was good last night I was pushing 2.3 over 46km itza party with two climb at the end
Thank you Cookie and thanks for watching. 🙌
Great result, nothing to gain from riding in D anymore. How far are you off being regraded? It’s mad that you can be so strong in C yet still be a D. 👍
If I'm honest Alan, I don't really understand the grading so unsure how far off I am. Feels like Im destined to be a great pretender forever. 😅
Changing category is tough for motivation. 2 days ago I decided to take a part in a race. All Categories were starting together.
B and C riders were riding together till the first climb. I put all my strengths to stay with B riders, but at the end of it they were +10 secs. I just stayed with two cat C riders on the front. During second climb one guy got dropped and the rest of the race I was just fighting with myself to not get dropped too (a group of 1 B rider, 1 C rider and me) ... The last climb was to the finish line. The C guy flew from us for 2-3 secs, then B guy started sprinting. I put everything what left to don't get dropped and finally I won the cat C for the first time... 3.4w/kg for 42mins (my FTP was 3.2w/kg).
I don't have any motivation to take a part in B races, since as a first guy in Cat C I couldn't hold group pace for B :/
Jump from D to C was noticable, but from C to B is another world.
I hope you will stay motivated to make even more improvements.
Welldone on your win. That's a serious W/KG avg. 💪
@@RyanCondon I bought my trainer after 5months of riding on roadbike (1-2 times per week). My first ride (which was a race) set the FTP to 2.9w/kg. In 14months (with 2 and 3 months breaks in meantime) I went to 3.4w/kg.
I'm pretty sure you will be able to have similar power outputs in 2 years if you do consistent trainings :)
I saw some of your videos few months ago and there is a huge improvement in you technic, planning and preparation.
My "best trainings" are group rides (1.5-2h) with stronger riders which always are putting me on the edge. Sometimes I get dropped before the end, but having someone to follow is the best motivation to put more effort ;)
Still you're much better endurance rider than me. 3.5h is max for a single ride for me. Watching you with 8h efforts is like watching a different dimension :)
Excellent performance in your first cat C races. You are already in the mid-pack (that's not easy). Congratulations!! Now you need to do THE GRADE to be officially upgraded to cat C and have your blue dot.
I don't tend to work as hard on climbs or solo efforts. My highest W/kg at 2.7 came in my last C race.
@@RyanCondon You don't need to. Power = cadence x torque. Set the trainer settings to easy and spin as fast as you can as you were on the flat. You can generate power by spinning fast or grinding. The trick is to find the sweet spot were you can generate the most torque at the fastest cadence possible.
18th was an excellent effort!
🙌
Maybe one day our paths will cross in Cat C Ryan 😁
At the moment I just do the odd TT or Hill Climb. Quite a few wins under my belt too 👍
Racing is a different matter. I can manage 3w/kg but have nothing left in the tank for the last few km's. And I'm still hopeless at sprinting.
Wish I had 3w/kg even with out a sprint 😅
@@RyanCondon It's all the Zwift workouts that have got me there 👍I'm sure you'll be there in no time Ryan.
18th - fantastic job!
Cheers Neek. 💪🙏👍
I was racing allot last winter season in Cat C I am a heavy sprinter type 95kg with 20 years of explosive sports in me .. If the Race is Flat I almost always podium with out too mutch fuss .. But if there are hills I just cant hang on and I loose the pack .. So I ended up racing with C on hilly routs and B on the flat..
I want to try out racing on zwift, but after my last hard workout, zwift put me at the bottom of cat C already 😢
Go for it.. Whats the worst that can happen? Treat it like a computer game.
@@RyanCondon i could accidently change the camera at the start of the race 🫢
So I bet you could still ride in cat D and Zwift would do nothing about it you are in my book and for awhile now been a Cat C rider. Zwift does not enforce so far as I see. Not being nasty towards you Ryan just as I see it it is hard to provide a level playing field the way Zwift looks at your power and wkg. Some cat D riders would have won those races with no problem I am just pointing out there seems to be no level ground for races of people with the same relative abilities. Interestingly I climbed past a lot of cat C riders in a race finishing before them the other thing was I passed a good number of Cat D riders but when I finish they where listed above me and not many behind me oh yea so what happened there. I have noticed a lot of people in races don't get listed at the end so it appears that there was not so many in the race. Looks like your having fun anyway Ryan👍👍
You can do everything you'd need in a race with the Zwift Play controllers. So much easier than trying to use a mouse or keyboard. Up on the d-pad to bring up the menu, left/right to change menu items, A to select, B to go back. Might be worth a try.
Well done, 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Nice1 fella. Props to you for racing Cat C! Them skinnys fly off the top of the bumps....
😁👍🏼🤙🏼👊🏼🙏🏻💪🏼
16:52 that Wayne (75 Years). Does that mean he's 75 years old? WOW!
Welcome to my world :) Looking forward to racing you if i can time it once in a while :)
Watched a few videos now where people are stepping up a category by choice for the "challenge". I have been riding a bike for a year in total and decided to get zwift for the winter this year. After a couple rides around i decided to go for a race. Was automatically put into cat C, didnt think too much of it. Actually came second on "herds of the mountain goats race" with first finishing 5 minutes ahead of me. After that was automatically put into cat B!! Where ive been getting droped every race ever since!.
How are so any people getting to do all these races in lower cats! And after one race im bumped to B!
Anyway ...its been nice watching your channel and seeing someone atually enjoying and gradually improving their race experience, rather than being sent staright into the hell fire to burn 😂👍🏻
@@ne0paul its mainly weight. If its not too personal, what weight did you input and what was your average Watts in your last race?
Smart scale is connected to my fit bit app which is connected to zwift so weight is adjusted automatically. So 74kg or there abouts.
Last race I decided to do a 'zwift labs' race in an attempt to actually be competitive with a 'racing score' of 405. Although grouping is done by race score it still indicated this would be a category C race! So was more optimistic,finished 13th out of 18, which I KILLED myself for 😅 doing 3.5 watts/kg.
Last 'proper' cat B race I finished 29th of 33 doing 3.4 watts/kg with most people above me doing less watts 🤷🏻♂️
@@ne0paul Yes, makes sense. Weight is everything in Zwift, weighing 74kg makes sense you're in CAT B. My advice, embrace it and use it as motivation to get better. Good luck.
@@RyanCondon I was afraid you were going to say that 😂. Just really wished I could have had the fun of competing for wins etc for a little while! Lol. Appreciate the replies and keep on doing your thing, your hilarious and I'm learning alot 👍🏻
@@ne0paul lol, nothing beats a baptism of fire. Good luck! Thanks for your comments. :))
Great video.
If you think Cat D isn't spicy enough you should try Monday's ZRacing Primetime at 18:10 🤣🤣. Racing in Cat C does seem a bit more structured. I've found it more relaxed as there's not someone riding off the front every 10 seconds. As long as you pick your races and stay switched on it's not too hard to stay in the lead group. Got to work on that sprint power to get a place though.
Cheers Nik, I have tried Primetime. FREE Video is here - www.patreon.com/posts/my-attempt-at-i-104354255?Link&
Agree with this regarding the primetime D - I got beasted, came 24th instead of expected podium !
Are Zwift Community Live ever going to start broadcasting the 18:10 race? Or is the suspension of coverage with commentary all part of the new benefits of the subscription increase😅Glad to have won it once and got a 3rd but rarely crack the top 25 recently!
@@rolandhoward8421 I think the reason the 18.10 isn't on Zwift Community Live is due to one of the commentators leaving. Nathan is still there. Hopefully it will come back.
@@nikblyth8047 Cheers Nik! Made me laugh the other day when you said you didn’t fancy another race up the Alpe. Only time I remember finishing ahead of you! we were yo-yo-ing all the way up. Wish I’d caught Ty but I had nothing left.
That’s a fantastic result fella! Cat C is a massive step up isn’t it. I’m like you, 1km off the line and heart rate is through the roof. Again, chapeau sir 👍🏻
Cheers Steve. The grind is real. 😅
Great job Ryan! Hope to race with you someday 😊
mine 181 in the B's haha uber fast. Great stuff mate
what's your weight?
94.6
@@RyanCondon not bad
Fantastic first Cat C race👍
Hi mate. Can’t remember if you mentioned it in this video. Said you was in Essex. Where’s abouts in Essex Ryan
Deepest darkest. 😅
Ok no worries. Just thought if you wanted to jump on a few rides with the lads.
I’m Essex as well that’s all
@@Thebeardpainter thank you Sean. I do have a lot of events over the summer now but I appreciate the offer. 👍🙌
@@RyanCondon Not long ago done Ride London. Chilterns next weekend. Always do SportiveUk events and the obligatory London to Southend. Good luck mate. Look forward to the videos. Keep smashing it 🙌🏻
Brilliant great effort getting mid pack in the Cs. Weight isn't a major factor unless it's over 5%, so maybe you have to pick courses that play with your strengths, mostly flat with long shallow climbs. The only other tip is power early into climbs from the back, using the momentum/draft. Maybe those extra few meters might keep you in the pack 👍🏼
Thanks Scott.
Nice Video. I was forced into Cat 'C' at the beginning of June because my 90 day average was above 2.5 w/kg. Comparing my time and finishes you are definitely a minute of so faster after reviewing the Bag that Badge series. I felt a bit discourage at how tough it was to hang on to the first breakaway group and then the second on the Race: Stage 2: Sea Breeze - Island Hopper (C). I literally had zero draft for over half the race and not wanting the third group behind me to catch up. I eventually caught up to small group near the end but no enough gas to push ahead of them. Finishing 4:45 behind first at 2.7 w/kg which is about my average over the last 15 races or so.
Cheers,
Look forward to future video and finding myself at the staring line with you soon. Matthew Fowler (DIRT) or M.Fowler (DIRT)
Thanks for the comment Matthew, I'm enjoying the grind and being me more capable races like you. Hopefully progression will be swift. 😅
Great job as always! You’re killing D cat which is good. Keep working at C but don’t feel bad about beating guys in Cat D, use it as a z2 work out but sprint at 400k.
It's crazy how fast D went from being impossible to feeling dominant. I like the grind in C now.
One helpful tip for those rollers is to sag climb, where you push to the front before it starts tilting up, as that gives you a chance to stay in the snake as the others come past you. Good to see you pushing yourself, will only help you to improve more!
I always try to do this but they just sail away.
Really good race the last one. It's so true you can get dropped in just seconds. If you dont know the course you will find yourself in trouble.
Dropped like a hot potato. Thanks for watching. 🙌
I am at the point now in cat D where I can just about stick with the front group and have very little left for the sprint. I enjoy the grind and toughness required to stay in the group. You summed it up nicely with your narration, it's actually pretty mentally taxing to stay on the ball and save energy as much as possible. Such a great game, really enjoyed this video thanks, I always learn something.
Thanks Fraser. Keep going Cat D does get easier. 🙌💪
Cat C will do you the world of good. Ignore the guy who won this race. 3.8 wpk at 198 average watts must mean he has his weight set as that of a small child. Give it 5 races and you won’t be getting dropped. Give it 15 races and you will have enough to pull off a sprint at the end
I'll hold you to that Paulo. I've had 5 races now, enjoying the grind. Thanks for watching.
It’s tough innit 😂. I’ve had one Cat C and did ok. It was flat though 😅. Planning to alternate between C & D as still sometimes struggle in D, and wins not so frequent yet! Keep at it and still hoping to race with you soon. Our stats are really similar 💪
You'd beat me.
@@RyanCondon we’ll have to see. Check ZwiftPower stats.
Well done. The more the race C, you stronger you will get. I got dropped soooooo many times when I first upgraded, only after 2-3mths, I could hold my own in the front group
Weight is my issue. I'm by far one of the heaviest in every race. In Cat D I'm mid range but C isnt for big guys like me.
Love the snippets of Patreon voiceover in this video. Coupled with the podcast you’ve got me signed as a paid up follower 😊
Thanks Paul. Means a lot and helps me keep making these vids. 🙌
Beat a lot of riders m8, they guy is probably 8st that beat you at the end. Good luck with winning a Cat C race.
Cheers Kev!
You’ve done so well. I got promoted to C and didn’t do as well as you!!! I’m back in D now. I would say though if you join a team and compete in ZRL seasons the cats are even harder so even cat D would be harder than normal.
If you want to join a team there’s loads out there. I’m in one called Galaxy. Many teams do TTT as well, you might live that it’s a team effort team time trial and time stops when you get 4th person across the line! You can draft on TT bikes it’s a hoot!!! Any way well done!!!
Thanks Gareth. If I'm honest, I like racing solo... No expectations. Im going to keep pushing on in CAT C. Thanks for watching. 👌
He he, loads of us are fans though we talk about your channel a lot as we’re warming up and on discord. One day we will get you to the dark side my friend you don’t know what you’re missing! 😂 keep making the vids great content!!!!!!!
@@garethbutton thanks Gareth. That's good to know you like my vids. I appreciate that. 🙏🙌
Great job! Being a Cat D rider in Cat C as well is really hard. The power they put out is insane.
You're not wrong. I already miss D. 🤣
you look fitter and fitter
Thanks :)
Congrats (or maybe commiserations😅) on Cat C Ryan! Watching you feels like somewhat of a glimpse into my own painful future being 12 weeks into Zwift now 😅, you definitely have some natural talent though! And can bang out some watts on those hills! 💪
Thanks G-Unit! Watching your vids, you're not far off. My 5 minute power is better than my 15 second. 😅
@@RyanCondon Thanks for the encourage bud, and that’s nuts! But a good skill to have to break away from the pack!
You're going to get upgraded to Cat C on your next mountain climb race, no doubt. Also, congrats on the impressive race placement!
Cheers Jesse. I hope so. Ive got no intentions of going back to D.
@@RyanCondon You're catching up to my level very very quickly. Looking forward to seeing you on the virtual roads!
I never won a Cat D Race and when I was quick enough, Zwift detected a FTP-Incrase after my last race. Now I'm stuck in Cat C for a while I guess.
Its all part of the game. The hussle is more fun than winning. ;)
My story exactly. Didn't get to enjoy Cat D at all before i was bumped up to C.
@@CalmLikeABomb76 and I'm doing it voluntarily 😅
Try a flatish race in C. You may be surprised.
I'm going to try all the races. 😅
@@RyanCondon Why not 😁😁
Just wait until zwift moves you up.
To Cat B? Ive just started in C lol
😂😂💪🏼@@RyanCondon
Yeah wait till you get to cat B, I started in cat C and that the jump was huge, only just starting to hang on to the peloton. Well done attempting, at the end of the day it forces you to be better, train better and race smarter.
Nah Ryan, you need to look at your cadence and gear choice
Good thing I don't take it too seriously 😅